The X in My Name, An Analysis

"The X in My Name"

By Francisco X. Alarcon

the poor

signature

of my illiterate

and peasant

self

giving away

all rights

in a deceiving

contract for life

This poem written by Francisco Alarcon describes the life of an illiterate man who finds himself signing away his freedom by placing his mark on a contract. He is unable to read the contract he is signing or even write his name. Being unable to read he leaves himself vulnerable to be taken advantage of and deceived. Alarcon, who was raised in a Hispanic community, was surrounded by illiteracy. Wanting to change the situation in which he was raised in he went to school to become a teacher and now focuses his efforts on eliminating illiteracy. This poem was written from the experience of watching those he cared about around him being taken advantage of because they were unable to read or write. "The X in My Name" shows the mistakes and ill consequences that illiteracy can bring upon those uneducated. It also sheds light onto how social structure and financial class play into illiteracy, and how detrimental illiteracy can be to those on the low end of the monetary spectrum. Though Alarcon only uses a few words it is easy to understand and see how the illiterate can be effortlessly be taken advantage of.

The "X" has a long history dating back to the days of the peasants and of America's Negro slaves. When faced with a legal document requiring a signature those who were unable to read or write were asked to leave their mark, customarily an X thus showing their consent. During the American Revolution and the Civil War slaves were recruited for battle and many were asked to leave their mark signing up for war. The X has become the customary signature for those who were uneducated in writing skills, and unable to sign their name. This practice is still in effect today. In 1870 20 percent of white Americans and 80 percent of black Americans were illiterate. Miraculously enough in the past 130 years those figures have drastically changed. We can proudly say that these figures are less than 2 percent for both demographics combined.

Like in the poem, illiteracy leaves a person vulnerable to be taken advantage of. This poor soul unknowingly signed away the rights to his own freedom by leaving his mark.